Once we arrived outside Lepricus and I had to try our best to make our way back past the wall of sand. With Obitiga on his back, I was the only one able to fight against the creatures we would run into. As we were about to approach the edge of the Oasis Obitiga began to mutter something.
"S..St..Stop..that way."
[Obitiga, slightly conscious]
"But we're almost out.. Are you sure?"
[Lepricus, worried]
"Just…Just Trust me."
[Obitiga]
"Twilight, this way. Obitiga says that it would be better."
[Lepricus, yelling ahead]
"Wait, he's awake?"
[Twilight, as he speeds his way back to the two]
"Ba…Barley."
[Obitiga, with a slight smile]
"Good, what happened to the others? Are they okay?"
[Twilight, walking side to side with the others]
"No...I can't really explain it right.."
[Obitiga, as he loses consciousness again]
"Obi. Obitiga!"
[Twilight]
"I think he passed out again due to the pain. Maybe he'll regain consciousness later."
[Lepricus, looking over his shoulder]
As we kept heading towards the direction Obitiga had directed us. All I could wonder was when he would wake back up if the others were okay. And What he meant by he can't really explain what happened.
For a while, I thought we were doing nothing but just wandering around. Until we arrived at an area that looked to be a small lake. Not enough nature for life to be located there but just enough for us to rest and recover.
"What are we doing here?"
[Twilight]
"I'm not sure but it's probably best if we'd just rest for a while. It's probably why Obitiga brought us to the area, to begin with."
[Lepricus]
"Should we wake him up?"
[Twilight]
"No, I think for now we should let him rest and recuperate."
[Lepricus]
"What about the others? I doubt the cult has done anything to them or they would have left the bodies behind right?"
[Twilight]
"That is a good point..I guess it will be best to rest. We had a long day and we're lucky to still be here."
[Lepricus]
"Yeah, maybe Obitiga will be better in the morning."
[Twilight]
We rested for a few days and nights, which took a while. Obitiga didn't return to his consciousness for that time being. When he did Lepricus and I asked what happened as we helped him heal. It seems out of nowhere a Cult member had attacked the group while healing. Temti and Sirisa tried their best with Gixoh to defend but they were still captured in the end. Obitiga was more than certain they were taken to Hotia. Which was the Supply Silo for the island. He told us we were actually close to a tunnel entrance that could lead us there.
S.Y. 650 Muro 16 3:46 S.Q. - The Lake near Hotia
Once all of us were back on our feet fully we began heading out, towards the entrance. Once we found it, Obitiga warned both of us how dangerous it would be. Unlocking the access for the tunnel underground meant that the ZC could notice at this point.
Though since that was the only access, we had no other choice. Just like the previous entrance underground. It was a long staircase-like entrance wide too, maybe enough space for 10 people to move down at a time. The further we went down the more we wondered why it was so silent. Eventually, it looked like the stairs were coming to an end and we could see a door.
"Finally the bottom of the way has to be through here."
[Lepricus]
"Yeah, I'm really tired of these stairs."
[Twilight]
"Are you okay up there?"
[Both hollering to the now somewhat mobile Obitiga]
"Yeah.."
[Obitiga, in slight pain]
"We found a door, we'll wait for you by the entrance."
[Lepricus]
Lepricus and I made our way further down towards the door. We expected to find Zenshu Members the moment we opened, so we braced ourselves. To our disappointment and surprise, we didn't. Instead, we found an empty room.
"This is just an empty room."
[Twilight]
"Maybe it's a place they use to store stuff."
[Lepricus]
"Yeah, this wouldn't be the entrance."
[Obitiga, arriving at the doorway]
"We'd have to continue further down.
[Obitiga]
"Further down?"
[Twilight]
"There should be a door deeper in."
[Obitiga, pointing at the furthest wall]
The door seemed to lead to just more stairs, descending further down. Eventually what looked like a door appeared again.
"Maybe this will be the door."
[Twilight]
"Yeah, I'm kinda hoping so too."
[Lepricus]
Turns out it was nothing but crops, with another door deeper in. So once again we continued our descent. We passed 3 more doors on the way, and now I had arrived at a fourth. At this point, we kinda just hoped we'd find the end already. When we entered the room it was different. The room was dark and cold, and then we heard this rustling coming from the back, so we stepped inside. Once in the room, it began to illuminate. There they were, all the Hotia workers, we had finally found them.
"Dad, are you here?"
[Obitiga]
"Chancellor Poju, does anyone know where he is?"
[Lepricus]
"This way he's down this way!"
[Strangers, screams]
"You guys have seen him?"
[Obitiga, talking to those who called]
"Yeah, his cell is a few more down."
[Stranger 1]
"Let's hurry and get him out."
[Obitiga, ahead rushing as best he can]
"Wait up Obitiga, we could get lost in here."
[Twilight]
"Dad, can you hear me, it's me, Obitiga."
[Obitig, yelling]
"Obi...Obitiga is that really you."
[Poji says faintly]
"Dad, yes it's me, are you okay?"
[Obitiga says rushing to his father's side]
"Are you okay, you seem injured."
[Poji]
"Yes, I am, I had help though, otherwise I'd probably be in worse shape."
[Obitiga]
[Lepricus and Twilight approach the cell Obitiga is crouching near]
"So this is your father, the other Chancellor?"
[Lepricus, curiously]
"Yes, he governs over Hydaria"
[Obitiga]
"Who are these people, son?"
[Poji]
"No need to worry dad, they are kind people. They helped defeat the Cult in town, saved mom with me, and defeated the Forsaken Greed."
[Obitiga]
"You must be exaggerating my boy, the only way you could do all that, let alone defeat the Forsaken Greed, is if you had the Twilight Guardian by your side."
[Poji]
"I guess that's my cue to introduce myself. My name is Twilight, it's nice to meet you, Chancellor. This is Lepricus"
[Twilight]
"Greetings to the both of you.. You know, Twilight you look just like him."
[Poji]
"Him?"
[Twilight]
"The previous Guardian, he was a friend of mine a long time ago. I met him during the early days of his travels."
[Poji]
[As Lepricus and Obitiga, break the locks to the cells one by one]
"Can you tell me more about him...and about who I am."
[Twilight]
"Yes but let us all get to safety before the Cult returns."
[Poji says stepping out of his cell]
"Actually we won't be coming with you."
[Lepricus says as he releases other prisoners]
"One of the members has taken everyone else in our group. We are unsure of who, but we can only guess he's heading to the next Shrine."
[Twilight, with a dark angry tone]
"You mean Rah? I know you might be a somewhat strong kid but Rah is ruthless."
[Poji]
"The Last member we fought acted tough too, so I doubt it will be an issue. The people he took are family, and neither of us can let that slide."
[Lepricus, looking over a Twilight]
"Well if I can't change your mind, his other members and him eased to the Temple of Pride. It's located at the bottom of the tower."
[Poji]
"I have to go with them dad, I've gotta see this through, they hurt you and mom, I can't just let it go."
[Obitig, hugging his dad goodbye]
"I understand, son it's okay. Twilight, please keep my son safe. When you're done we'll be waiting at the Chancellor's office. I'll tell you all that I know then."
[Poji]
"Thank you, Chancellor, I'll make sure to bring him back safely."
[Twilight]